Two problems related to side/window air bag have been reported for the 2008 Kia Motor Sorento. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2008 Kia Motor Sorento based on all problems reported for the 2008 Sorento.
Just purchased a brand new 2008 kia Sorento. The passenger side air bag only activates 50% of the time when a passenger is in the seat. Took vehicle to dealer and dealer could not replicate the problem. Returned vehicle to dealer a 2nd time with a passenger seated in the seat and the air bag was not activated. The service manager actually witnessed a 150lb passenger properly seated in the seat and the air bag was not activated. They kept the vehicle 5 additional days. They ran diagnostics and contacted kia. Kia would not authorize a repair since all the diagnostics passed even though the service manager personally witnessed it not working. The dealer states that kia refuses to acknowledge a known problem with the passenger seat air bag sensor.
The contact owns a 2008 kia Sorento. While driving 35 mph, the contact experienced automatic transmission failure and took the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer offered no assistance, so the contact took the vehicle to another dealer on January 21, 2008. Two mechanics test drove the vehicle and acknowledged the failure; however, they needed to order the codes to make the repair. As of February 22, 2008, the dealer has yet to call the contact to schedule the repair work. The dealer informed her that the vehicle had to get used to the way she drove and that there was no failure. The contact also stated that there was an issue with the passenger side air bag. The dealer informed her that she had to sit in the vehicle a certain way. The contact stated that no matter how she sits, the light remains illuminated. The powertrain was unknown. The current mileage was 4,020 and failure mileage was 100.